The carbides and mechanical properties of as-cast high grade knives steel with and without cerium (Ce) addition were studied. The as-cast microstructure of the steel, the size of carbide precipitation, carbide morphology, and mechanical properties were systematically studied through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Besides, through the Equilib module of the FactSage thermodynamics software, the changes in the precipitation type of the inclusions with Ce during the solidification of the steel were calculated. The results indicate that the rare earth Ce is added into the steel to refine the as-cast microstructure of the steel. The types of inclusions in the steel are changed by the addition of Ce. The precipitated carbide morphology changes from a complex rod shape to a relatively single lamellar shape. The rare earth inclusions formed in steel by a moderate addition of Ce can be severed as the core of heterogeneous nucleation of carbides, which reduce the size of carbide precipitation, promote the uniform distribution of carbide in the as-cast steel, and improve the mechanical properties of the as-cast high grade knives steel.

研究了添加和不添加铈 (Ce) 的铸态高级刀具钢的碳化物和力学性能。通过光学显微镜、扫描电子显微镜和X射线衍射系统研究了钢的铸态显微组织、碳化物析出尺寸、碳化物形貌和力学性能。此外，通过FactSage热力学软件的Equilib模块，计算了钢在凝固过程中Ce夹杂物析出类型的变化。结果表明，在钢中添加稀土Ce可以细化钢的铸态显微组织。钢中夹杂物的种类因Ce的添加而改变。析出的碳化物形态从复杂的棒状变为相对单一的层状。